Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, Buildings, Plaza, and Staircase

Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, Buildings, Plaza, and Staircase

Client City of Edmonton | Location Edmonton, AB | Completion Ongoing

A new inner city destination for Edmontonians.

Located in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley, the Riverfront Buildings, Plazas and Staircase project provides an integrated solution containing a full service 50 seat restaurant, two plaza spaces, and a connecting series of accessible ramps and staircases mediating between the existing and proposed elements within the park.

The project was developed to become a destination within the river valley accessible to all Edmontonians. GEC's work on this project has developed our understanding of the Edmonton river valley. The plaza’s location at the top of the riverbank allows the restaurant to create a gateway to the park with its large roof cantilever, welcoming visitors from the surrounding urban environments to the riverfront park. Being located in a prominent natural area within the City of Edmonton, special attention was given to concealing and integrating the building’s mechanical systems to ensure the natural beauty of the park is maintained.

Phase I of this project will include a new accessible pathway system that will switchback through the site linking proposed and existing park programming. The path will also provide an additional barrier-free access through Louise McKinney Riverfront Park opening the river valley to more Edmontonians. Phase II of this project will include the restaurant and plaza upgrades. As a result of a detailed master planning exercise, the restaurant was relocated to the top of the river bank within the new Louise McKinney Plaza. A Riverfront Plaza will be created around a second set of existing buildings located closer to the water’s edge.